I love seeing smart remodeling, but in this house the "New laundry space in the furnace room!" added unintended problems.

Another feature was added to the list: "New washer and dryer!"

The laundry room on the upstairs bedroom level was closed off and the space was used to add to the master bathroom, increasing the size of the shower and adding a linen closet. It looked great!

What's the problem?

There are a couple really.

First, the dryer is too close to the heat pump to be able to work on the unit, or replace it if needed.

Second, and very important, the dryer is too close to the heat pump to remove the filter!

This heat pump has been in the house since 2006. It is fine, was installed well and is in good condition.

The homeowners chose to install a large media filter with their new system. It is fine, was installed well and is in good condition.

But the new laundry room makes it impossible to get the filter out! In that photo the filter is pulled out as far as it can be, and there are still 9" or so to go! It can't be removed.

Looking underneath the filter it is very dirty. It has been a while since it was replaced! Media filters all have their replacement requirements, every 2 or 3 months is usually recommended.

How long has it been since this filter was replaced? Perhaps since the installation of the new washer and dryer in the new laundry room?

My recommendation: all furnace manufacturers have requirement as to working space in front of their units. They have those requirements for a reason! In the unit above even a regular filter could not have been inserted or removed, without bending it severely that is. And bending filters is not good. It damages the filter structure and can cause weakening and gaps. But this media filter cannot be bent at all! Remodeling is great. Unintended consequences are not.

Posted by Juan Jimenez, The Richmond Home Inspector (A House on a Rock Home Inspections LLC) about 5 years ago

Hi Jay,

I don't think they were taking into account replacing the filters in the furnace. In many cases I find the furnace filters had not been changed in a long time. So dirty they would not even let any air through them.

If you could see me right now, I am just shaking my head in amazement. I blame Home Depot for this: "You can do it. We can help." LOL That has lead to a lot of Harry Homeowners thinking they CAN do it, when, in reality, they should leave certain things to the pros.

That is just crazy. We had a similar issue (not to this degree) when we added a new heating and air-condition unit to the last home we were in. The contractor did some "unique" work to the door to get into the filters.

This reminds me of an apartment complex that has a copper pipe running vertically right in front of the filter slot - in every unit! The filters have to be crushed to get past the pipe, then expanded under the unit. It doesn't always work out too well!

What I'll never understand is why sellers, who obviously knew this was happening, would not correct the situation before putting their house on the market. Oh wait... maybe the washer and dryer didn't convey.

Trying to make use of all the space in a home can sometimes present a tight fit. They will need to switch to a stackable washer and dryer or try to reconfigure the space some other way. It's important for architects and builders (and remodelers) to think these things through so these types of challenges can be avoided.

I can't tell from the picture if the dryer door (front loader?) can open all the way or not. Is there a chance the filter can be changed with the dryer door open? Looks like it's time for longer hoses/duct and casters under the W/D.

Posted by John J. Woods (Aardvark Appraisals) about 5 years ago

It is a front-loader unit John, but the filter is bigger than the hole on the front! They have those drawer boxes under each unit already.